Saturday Betsy, myself, Ruby the hound, and a dog houseguest had a nice ramp forage in the afternoon, then Betsy and I headed to city to meet three other couples at Limusina.On the way in we got a message that one guy had forgotten his wine while transferring to an Uber. Glad I packed an extra bottle! We all eventually made it, and were shown to a nice table in an upper section I had never seen before
MV Krug Cuvee 169
I’m not usually a Krug fan, but this is pretty damn good. Bright and rich, not oxidative, lively pear and apple fruit with brioche and a mineral finish. Elegant mousse B+/A-
NV Perrier-Jouet Blason Rose Champagne
Ordered off list by guy who left his wine in NJ. Sweet cherry and melon, a little lime zest, moderate acids, a little more dosage than I’d prefer but well done. B
Food was really delicious.
Guacamole with a bit of serrano kick
Tajin Caesar Salad with spiced pumpkin seeds and cotija dressing (this was outstanding, on a night with loads of great dishes a salad was contender for DOTN)
2015 Pazo Senorans Seleccion de Anada Albarino
Fresh and totally delicious, citrus and saline, stony, long. A-
2023 Do Ferreiro Cepas Vellas Albarino
Very young.Green apple, lemon zest, oyster shell. Needs time, B+
Yellowtail Aquachile with cucumber & serrano
Black Sea Bass ceviche with pineapple & lemongrass
Squash Blossom Machete (quesadilla)
Steak Suadero Solteros(composed nachos)
Lobster & Montauk Corn Solteros
1985 La Rioja Alta 890 Rioja Gran Riserva
Red fruits (plum and berry), cigarbox, a touch of menthol. Good finish, tangy with a citrus note at the end. B+/A-
1987 La Rioja Alta 890 Rioja Gran Riserva
Backup bottle, opened at restaurant. Raspberry, coconut and dill, good but oak still needs to integrate a bit. B/B+
1981 CVNE Imperial Rioja Gran Riserva
This is a wine that I love, but this bottle was corked!
Whole Red Snapper Tacos with cilantro salad
Tomahawk Prime Rib with Oaxacan pasilla rub and horseradish crema
Elote Brûlée with Cotija & pickled serranos (good but a little sweet for me)
Whole Cauliflower Locos (pretty sure the seasoning was crushed Takis)
1990 Lopez de Heredia Tondonia Rioja Reserva Bianco
Pear, fig, and orange zest with an almondy oxidative edge, but there is a real acidic bounce that keeps this lively. Fun (I liked more than others did). B/B+
1985 Grahams Vintage Porto
Black plum and cherry, cocoa and mint, cigar wrapper. Rich and opulent but with underlying acids. Well balanced. A-
Really fun night.
Then Sunday we had oOysters, sauteed scallops over pappadelle with a ricotta/ramp sauce,
2018 Collier Saumur Blanc
Rich and full, pear and quince with citrus zest, with air some wooly/waxy notes. 2018 ripeness but with plenty of good zippy acids bolstering the rich fruit, this is quite tasty now and I don’t see a need to age. B+/A-
Monday no wine with miso black cod, Chinese broccoli, and scallion rice.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was the only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.